Inclusive access and mobility in developing countries

A review of the literature on accessibility for those with particular needs on account of age or
disability shows the available information to be limited. There is generally little or no data to
plan, implement, monitor and evaluate projects and there are gaps between institutional
structures and policies. The universal mode of transport in urban and rural settings is walking
since this mode connects households to the transportation,system and destinations. For the
poorest people walking is often the only form of transport which they can afford. However,
there are many barriers to movement in the pedestrian environment, particularly in developing
countries for the transportation disadvantaged.
The travel needs and travel behaviors of the elderly, persons with disabilities in
developing countries may be similar to those in the US and other industrialized countries. The
solutions and interventions used to improve access and mobility in industrialized countries could
be adapted to developing countries. This paper describes some ways this experience could be
used to address mobility and accessibility problems for the transportation disadvantaged in low
and middle income countries.
The Transport and Social Responsibility Thematic Group within the World Bank has
started to compile data on mobility and accessibility for the transportation disadvantaged in
developing countries. The paper advocates the need to mainstream the pedestrian environment
into transport. It also describes an outline for inclusive transport indicators to monitor
accessibility and improvements to transportation and especially pedestrian infrastructure. These
indicators